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ACT II OF 2017 ACT II OF 2017 BALOCHISTAN PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2017 An Act to promote and ensure full and effective inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the community in line with the Islamic teachings and international best practices to protect their rights [Gazette of Balochistan Extraordinary, 8th June, 2017] No. PAB/Legis:v(02)/2017, dated 8.6.2017.---The Balochistan Persons with Disabilities Bill (Bill No.02 of 2017) having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on 20th May, 2017 and assented to by the Governor, Balochistan on 07th June, 2017 is hereby published as an Act of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Preamble.---WHEREAS it is expedient to put in place legal and institutional framework to protect the rights of the Persons with Disabilities: It is hereby enacted as follows:- CHAPTER III ADMINISTRATION OF RIGHTS 22. Functions of the Council.---(1) The council shall have the responsibility of achieving objectives of this Act and to assist the government in developing legal and institutional framework. (2) The Council shall be the executive authority to implement this Act to develop a legal and social environment and to help the Persons with Disabilities to have the protection of law in enjoying their fundamental rights. (3) The council shall, with the help of other authorities and persons, take all possible measures to protect Persons with Disabilities from discrimination, exploitation, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment on the hands of any one including their families and caregivers. (4) The council shall coordinate the implementation of the principles of the Convention at provincial and lower administrative levels through providing technical assistance to various organs of the provincial legislatures and governments in developing appropriate legal and institutional frameworks in their jurisdictions and making them efficiently and effectively achieve the objective of protection and enforcement of rights. (5) The council shall evaluate the effectiveness of laws and policies and assess the implementation of the laws and policies at the Provincial level and recommend to the government about the changes required in the policies, laws and rules. (6) The council shall conduct or cause to conduct research on the status of the Persons with Disabilities and matters related promoting and protecting their rights. (7) The council shall put into place an institutional mechanism to regularly monitor performance of various departments and organizations in the government and issue a performance score card to each such entity and organization at least once in every three years. Similarly, the council shall devise and maintain score cards for private entities that seek such evaluation and assessment. Such performance audits shall be conducted by professionals and the council staff. (8) The council also assesses its own performance in creating legal and social environment in the country and issue an annual status report within 3 months of end of every calendar year. (9) The council shall be responsible to monitor the activities of the private and community based organizations to ensure that required standard of services are maintained and that funds generated by them in the name of Persons with Disabilities are appropriately used. The council may enforce an institutional mechanism for effective, efficacious and transparent functions of such organizations and may impose restrictions on organizations not meeting the objective criteria laid down by it. (10) The council shall have the powers to frame and enforce regulations and guidelines for its own efficient and professional working and for effective achievements of objects of this law.